Catching catfish in winter using a proven method. Catching catfish in winter. Methods and methods for catching winter catfish What is the best way to catch catfish in winter?
Catching catfish with the onset of winter will require patience and special skill from the angler. Winter catfishing is a serious process that requires careful and advance preparation. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare for this fishing since the summer - look for fishing spots, prepare gear and all the necessary equipment.
Catfish is always a worthy opponent in the fight for survival, as it offers colossal resistance, which naturally causes a flurry of excitement among fishermen. There is a lot of contradictory reasoning regarding winter catfishing. Some people think that this type of fishing is practically useless, while others successfully catch decent trophies.
In late autumn, catfish, in search of secluded places, move to wintering pits. Several specimens can coexist in one such pit, and here they will spend the whole winter. Interestingly, when a catfish sees a tempting delicacy, it will certainly try to grab the bait. After this, the angler can hook.
In winter, the food supply of catfish is quite scarce, so the catfish can even react to an artificial jig bait. According to experts, catfish behave more actively at dusk. However, if it is cloudy outside or there is decent snowfall, then catching catfish in winter will also be successful during the daytime.
Great-great-grandfathers went for winter catfish, taking with them a drill and a special device, which consisted of several hooks with an attached load on a strong fishing line or rope. This method of fishing, of course, cannot be considered either sporty or professional, but still, it is quite effective.
Decent winter specimen
An old-fashioned way of catching catfish in winter
In winter, you should look for catfish in half-dams or near washed-out banks. It is difficult to detect a catfish hole in winter, so this needs to be done in the summer. You need to remember, the deeper the hole, the higher the chances of catching the desired trophy.
First of all, you need to cut a hole of the appropriate size, after which you can throw equipment into the hole, which our grandfathers called samoder. If the hole is cut correctly, close to the wintering hole of the catfish, then the result will not be long in coming.
It is necessary to remove the sauger from the hole as carefully as possible; several fish may be caught on this tackle at once. The catch should be pulled out very carefully, trying not to slow down. After all, a catfish can easily slide off under the weight of its own weight. To be on the safe side, as soon as the catfish approaches the hole, you should pierce it with a hook.
Catching catfish in winter requires special skill and patience. Winter fishing in search of catfish is considered an activity only for a real fisherman, because not everyone will dare to drill holes and collect gear when there is snow or frost outside. You need to prepare for such fishing in advance, so experienced fishermen select fishing spots and collect fishing equipment in the summer. Catfish is a worthy opponent in the fight for survival, and therefore offers very strong resistance, which, of course, causes great excitement among fishermen. There are many conflicting opinions regarding winter fishing for catfish; some believe that such fishing is practically useless, while others successfully catch decent specimens. Everyone knows that catfish gain weight very quickly and can reach a weight of three hundred kilograms.
Closer to winter, catfish move to pits in search of a secluded place. There may be several individuals in one hole, where they spend the winter, however, at the sight of a passing bait, this fish will not remain indifferent. The catfish will instantly grab the bait, and then you can safely hook it.
In winter, catfish are deprived of food, so they can easily be attracted by artificial bait in the form of a jig. According to experts, this fish is more active at dusk, but if there is snow or cloudy weather outside, then you can safely hunt for catfish during the day.
Our ancestors went fishing with a drill and a special device in the form of several hooks with a fixed load; this equipment was tied to a strong fishing line or rope. This method, of course, cannot be called sports or professional, but still the results of this method are very effective.
Old-fashioned fishing method
In winter you need to look for catfish in half-dams or near washed-out banks. The most difficult thing will be to find the hole where this fish is used to living in the winter. Therefore, experienced fishermen are in a hurry to identify such areas in the summer. And remember, the deeper the hole, the greater the chances of catching the desired prey. To begin with, you need to cut a hole of the required size, then you need to throw equipment, called a sauger, into the hole. If the hole is cut correctly, near the fish site, then the result will not take long to arrive. Carefully remove the sauger from the hole; several individuals may be caught on such a device at once. The catch must be pulled out with caution, try not to slow down, as the fish can easily slip under the weight of its own weight. To be on the safe side, on the surface of the water, you need to pierce the flaccid fish with a hook.
Catching catfish in winter is a rather rare and exotic activity. Despite this, there are two opinions when it comes to catching catfish from ice. The first fishermen are sure that in winter the catfish hibernates and there is absolutely no point in catching it, but other fishermen say the opposite. The main rule in winter catfish fishing is to find a promising area and choose a good bait that will wake up the sleepiest fish.
Catfish is a heat-loving fish, so in the cold season its activity noticeably decreases. In winter, it feeds less often and tries not to waste energy on trifles; therefore, 2-3 bites may occur per day, but in most cases only one. Even one bite a day in winter can bring a fairly large specimen. In winter, catfish are located at great depths in various holes.
Deep holes at the junction of two currents are the most promising. It is best to look for such places in open water, then in winter all you have to do is make holes and throw in bait.
If you were unable to find such holes, then a good option would be to look for catfish in the lower edge of the channel, especially where the channel sharply goes to the side. As a rule, catching catfish in winter is accompanied by active play of the bait. The catfish most often lies on the bottom and the bait should be given as close to its mouth as possible. Catfish fishing in winter is carried out using a silicone bait 10 to 20 centimeters long, equipped with a heavy lead head.
These can be various twisters and vibrating tails made of “edible” silicone. Small specimens can be caught using large shot-shaped jigs. Balancers and spoons are also a good option for winter catfish fishing. Catching catfish in winter is also possible using girders, but this method of fishing is best used as an addition to active fishing.
The best time for catching catfish in winter is considered to be before sunset; it should be borne in mind that in snowy and cloudy weather, catfish grab the bait well even in the daytime. In reservoirs near heating stations that are not covered with ice, catfish fishing in winter is carried out using spinning rods.
Catching catfish in December, January, February
There is no special division by months of fishing in winter; catfish are caught throughout the winter. At the beginning and end of winter, catfish are more active, but in the dead of winter they are more passive, go out for prey less often and try to move less.
Baits and lures for catching catfish in winter
When catching catfish with a jig, you will need bait of animal origin, it can be a large bloodworm or a worm. Getting a worm at this time is quite problematic, so fishermen mainly use bloodworms. To increase efficiency, it is good to treat the selected bait with an attractant. A bloodworm is attached to a hook through the middle of the body or under the head, 2-3 larvae at a time. You can attach more than 3 larvae, this will cut off other small fish. planted in the same way.
Jigs for catching catfish in winter
For catching small species, jigs with a diameter of 7 millimeters or more or jig heads are suitable.
Catching large catfish is possible using a burbot jig, which is a large head with a soldered elongated body about 50-60 millimeters long. The choice of bait in this case depends on the size of the expected prey. In the first case, a bunch of bloodworms is suitable, and in the second, you can use live bait or pieces of fish. Suitable bait for winter catfishing are loach, bream, roach, and crucian carp.
The color of the jig is selected based on the fishing conditions; in most cases, a jig with a natural color is suitable - silver, gold. Fluorescently colored jigs occupy a special place in catching catfish from ice and are an excellent replacement for regular jigs.
Silicone baits for catching catfish in winter
When choosing silicone baits, it is better to give preference to products made from “edible” silicone; twisters and
The length of silicone bait for catching catfish ranges from 10 to 20 centimeters. The color of the bait depends on the fishing conditions. Catching catfish in winter is more successful with silicone baits with a shiny color, but golden or silver-colored baits are also suitable. Among the silicones for catching catfish in winter, the Predator model from the famous manufacturer Mann’s stands out.
The silicone bait is equipped with a jig head in the shape of an olive or a bullet. A Fire Ball type lead head also works well when catching catfish in winter. The weight of the bait depends on the depth and strength of the current in the fishing area. In some cases, the weight of a jig head can be more than 100 grams.
Spoons for catching catfish in winter
Catching catfish in winter is carried out using heavy, large spoons with natural colors. Spoons with a gray-silver color have proven themselves well.
A good option is the universal Kastmaster spinner from Acme with a length of 60 millimeters or more. The weight of the spoon depends on the depth of fishing and the strength of the current. On average, the weight of a spinner for catching catfish in winter is 35-50 grams. Catfish readily respond to special spinners for catching burbot, and specifically the Professor Madepilkki Nestori model from Kuusamo, weighing 54 grams and 115 millimeters long, can attract even the most passive fish.
When fishing for catfish in winter, you can place pieces of fish on the hook of a spoon. Catching catfish in winter is possible using fish intended for summer fishing. In this case, choose bait weighing at least 80 grams with a silver color, which will resemble a roach. An example of such a spinner is the Catfish Spoon weighing 85 grams.
Balancers for catching catfish in winter
As in the case of spinners, you will need large and active baits with bright colors.
There are luminous phosphorus balancers on sale, which are an excellent option for winter catfish fishing. A successful model is the Pro balancer from the manufacturer Spider. This balancer is shaped like a small fish, which is a promising prey for catfish. Spider Pro with a length of 90 millimeters with colors numbered 27 and 29 allows you to catch catfish from the ice in the daytime, and in the evening you need to choose a color marked “F” which denotes phosphorus colors.
When choosing a balancer for catching catfish in winter, you need to choose baits with a stabilizer in the back of the bait. Such balancers have a very active and wide game.
Catching catfish in winter with a jig
This fishing method allows you to catch small and medium-sized individuals, and in this case an active search for catfish is not always required. When catching catfish with a jig, you can use a winter tent, which houses a heat source and the angler’s equipment.
Tackle for catching catfish in winter using a jig
In this case, a winter fishing rod with an open type reel is suitable.
Catching catfish in winter with a jig does not involve a smooth and even game, so most often it is held with gloves, but it is better to take a fishing rod with a handle made of frost-resistant material. In some cases, the fishing rod will need to be left in a passive state for some time, so do not forget to equip it with legs for stable placement on the ice.
The fishing rod is equipped with a metal or lavsan nod about 15 centimeters long. The fishing line used is monofilament intended for winter fishing with a diameter of 0.3 to 0.7 millimeters. The choice of diameter depends on the size of the intended production. Mormyshki are taken from lead with a diameter of 7 millimeters or more.
Technique for catching catfish with a jig
Catching catfish with a jig is not difficult, the main thing is to find its resting place. Having decided on the fishing location, the angler uses an ice drill to make a hole and clear it of snow crumbs with a slotted spoon. As a rule, when catching catfish, bait is not required, so you can immediately proceed to the process of catching fish. The selected bait is placed on the hook, and the jig is lowered into the hole.
Playing with bait when catching catfish in winter is very primitive. The fisherman lowers the jig to the bottom and taps it lightly, raising the turbidity, which is an attractive factor for catfish. Then the jig, with slight rocking, rises to a distance of about 15 centimeters from the bottom and then slowly, again with rocking, falls to the bottom. As a rule, a bite occurs when the bait is lifted.
Catching catfish in winter with silicone baits
This option for catching catfish is considered the most catchy and has recently become increasingly popular among anglers.
Tackle for catching catfish in winter using silicone baits
Catching catfish in winter with silicone is possible using a vertical lure rod with a hard whip and a nod.
In this case, a nod made of a clock spring or rubber is suitable. This fishing rod is equipped with an inertial reel and monofilament fishing line with a diameter of 0.3 to 0.7 millimeters.
The best option for catching catfish with silicone baits is to use a short spinning rod up to 1.2 meters long, equipped with a lightweight spinning reel and braid with a diameter of 0.2 to 0.6 millimeters. The main thing is that the chosen rod is durable, since winter fishing involves catching trophy specimens.
Technique for catching catfish with silicone baits
Having decided on the fishing spot and making holes, the angler lowers the bait into the hole. Playing with bait is a series of short jerks with the rod, during which the silicone bait bounces.
When catching catfish in winter with silicone, the bait must be reeled in starting from the bottom and subsequently the bait must touch the bottom each time. Only in this case can you count on a bite.
Catching catfish in winter using a spoon
Adherents of active fishing prefer to catch catfish with a spoon, and to further interest the fish, they place pieces of fish on the hook.
Tackle for catching catfish in winter using lures
For catching catfish in winter with a spinner, gear similar to that used for fishing with silicone baits is suitable. This can be a vertical trolling rod with an inertial reel, a nod and a strong monofilament line, or a short spinning rod with an inertial reel and braid. The diameter of monofilament line is from 0.3 to 0.7 millimeters, and braided line is from 0.2 to 0.6 millimeters.
Technique for catching catfish with a spoon
The fisherman will have to play with bait almost at the very bottom. First, the fisherman needs to lower the spoon to the bottom and move it so that the turbidity rises. In some cases, wiring can begin at a distance of about 3-5 centimeters from the bottom.
The technique for catching catfish in winter with a spoon is an alternation of raising and dropping the bait with short pauses. To give the bait the correct action, the angler must sharply lift the rod up. During the pause, the spoon rotates for some time and it is at such a moment that you can expect a bite. Success when catching catfish with a spoon mainly depends on the right place and spoon. A spinner with a wide body makes a lot of waddling movements, which attracts sleepy catfish.
Catching catfish in winter using a balance beam
When catching catfish in winter, balancers, due to their active and sweeping play, are more effective than silicone baits, and in some cases are even a better option than silicone.
Gear for catching catfish in winter on a balance beam
The gear for catching catfish in winter using a balance beam is the same as when fishing with silicone baits or spinners. In this case, it is a fishing rod for winter trolling, equipped with a nod and an inertial reel with a durable monofilament line with a cross-section from 0.3 to 0.7 millimeters. Or it can be a spinning rod with a length of 0.6 to 1.2 meters with a durable spinning reel and braid with a cross-section of 0.2 to 0.6 millimeters.
Technique for catching catfish using a balance beam
During movement, the balancer deviates to the side and on the way back makes movements that resemble a loop or the figure eight.
With the next swing, the balancer turns around and moves in the opposite direction. Catfish fishing in winter is carried out at great depths, so the angler must make a short and sharp swing of the rod to get the balancer to work correctly.
The technique of catching catfish on a balance beam is not particularly complicated. The fisherman, swinging the rod, raises the balancer to a distance of 10-15 centimeters from the bottom, but sometimes it is necessary to raise the balancer to a distance of about 30 centimeters. At the top point there is a short pause, and then the angler returns the rod to the starting point.
At the lowest point, a pause is also necessary; hold the bait until the balancer stops rotating. Another good thing about catching catfish in winter with a balance beam is that in some cases it can hit the catfish’s head, thereby provoking it to bite aggressively.
Choosing a place to catch catfish in winter
A place for catching catfish in winter should be chosen in advance, that is, during the period of open water. Finding a promising fishing spot with an echo sounder will not be difficult. In winter, several individuals of catfish stand in deep holes, and in search of food they go to nearby edges, while trying not to go far from their camp sites.
When searching for places, pay attention to areas with natural obstacles in the form of snags. Catfish can stand in snags waiting for prey.
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Catching catfish in winter
Features of winter fishing for catfish
This powerful and heavy predator is the dream of any angler with a spinning rod, rods and donks. There is an opinion that when ice sets in, catfish fishing stops. This is true for most reservoirs in central Russia. But it all depends on the temperature regime of the reservoir and the density of predators in it. Many cooling reservoirs of nuclear power plants do not freeze at all in winter. And if there are catfish in them, then fishing for them is possible all year round.
In the Astrakhan region, in the Volga delta, catfish also do not lose activity during the winter period. It's warmer there and there are more fish. A sort of fishing Eldorado, where you can indulge your soul in real fishing. And the catfish, apparently, thinks the same. Therefore, he does not sleep, with a mustache, in the wintering pits, but still goes out to rob the deep pit edges of the channels and reed eriks. The only difference is that in winter, catfish spend much less time hunting. Everything is connected with the so-called metabolism, that is, the metabolism in the body, which is slow in winter for all fish. In cold water, catfish have no time for fat, if only they were alive... And therefore they eat as much as is required so that the strength in their powerful blued bodies, possessing fierce strength, does not fade away. In the warm summer they will bask at night in the moonlight, coming to the surface with a quiet splash, recklessly attacking sleepy fish, on a sunny day snatching unwary chicks and ducks in the reeds, picking up from the bottom everything that has protein and calories, be it a lying one. carrion.
Places for catching catfish are selected in advance, from the period of open water. And there is nothing new here. Just like in the summer, these predators stand in deep holes, and go out to hunt on nearby pit edges, without going far from their camp sites, as happens in the summer.
Since during this period catfish are in a borderline state between sluggish slumber and periodic episodes of activity, then fishing for catfish requires something drastic to interest the predator, even to the point of knocking on the strong head of the catfish with some heavy and fast bait . This, of course, is ironic, but you really need active and fairly large baits. And such baits include balancers.
Winter fishing for catfish using balancers and spoons
To catch catfish, of course, you need large and active baits, preferably bright colors, with the addition of article F, that is, phosphor shades. Why are such shades needed? The fact is that catfishing occurs at great depths and often under a layer of snow. Even on a bright day, when the snow-covered expanses of the reservoir or the channels of the Volga delta are flooded with sunlight, this light barely breaks through the ice.
Such catchy and active lures include Spider Pro balancers measuring 90 mm in colors 27, 29, which are popular colors in pike fishing. They will also be appropriate for catfish fishing. These colors are best used during the day. In the evening or early in the morning, as already mentioned, you need phosphorus colors with the addition of the letter F. Glowing baits when catching a predator at dusk can give a head start to any of the most advanced and expensive balancers of regular colors.
Why exactly can balancers be considered successful baits for catfish? Classic balancers, which include Spider Pro lures, have a very active and wide game, which largely depends on the stabilizer of the bait. Spider Pro balancers have a stabilizer, which is also called the tail, made of special impact-resistant plastic. Due to its design features, the balancer deviates far away from the center line of the hole, and then on the way back it makes movements that sometimes resemble a “figure eight” or a steep loop. With the next swing, the bait turns around and moves in the opposite direction. And we have already said that sleepy under-ice catfish sometimes lack such a show so that, shaking off the remnants of drowsiness, they rush after the impudent fish, even if it is just an artificial bait. Considering that in winter several catfish accumulate in the pits, the joke about poking a catfish in the head with a heavy bait may turn out to be a reality. Underwater filming has repeatedly demonstrated similar episodes when the bait literally hit the fish’s head.
When fishing for catfish in the deep-water sections of a reservoir or the Volga channel of the lower Volga, there is one important detail: the balancers will work actively and to the fullest of their capabilities if you use a non-standard stroke of the fishing rod, that is, shorter and sharper than, for example, in fishing at depth up to five meters. When fishing in relatively shallow water, you just need to lift the balancer and it will immediately “start up”. Greater depths level out and average out the jerks of the fishing rod. Therefore, more effort has to be made so that the bait can deviate from the vertical and then glide back in its famous ornate dance...
Spoons are also successful baits for catching catfish, but most often they turn the fish red. Apparently, predators are only curiously interested in the strange fish that dared to invade their living space, but the decision to grab it has not yet come. And then the fish itself grabs the king of the underwater kingdom and drags him up.
For fishing at great depths, according to the logic of fishing conditions, it would seem that narrow and heavy spinners are required, like pike perch spinners, only even heavier. But these baits will work too sluggishly at depth, which may only interest equally sluggish pike perch or pike, especially if fishing occurs in the middle of winter. Which lure should you choose to catch catfish?
Recently, summer oscillating spoons have become widely used in ice fishing. Their advantage is that they play well at all depths: from coastal shallow water to a depth of 8-10 m. At the same time, summer oscillating spoons have additional phases of play, when at the moment of a pause the bait rotates around itself for some time. Sometimes it is during this phase that the predator grabs the bait. In addition, the oscillating spoons of the summer series have a long game on their own due to the wide body, which allows you to make a lot of waddling movements, sliding in the water column away from the vertical, nimble dives, which distinguishes these baits from ordinary winter vertical spoons that fall to the bottom with a heavy nail. But for fishing at great depths, even such a widely playing bait must receive an energetic impulse in the form of a sharp short throw of the fishing rod.
As already mentioned, in order to stir up a sleepy catfish, you need an active bait that irritates the predator and forces it to attack. Oscillating spoons for summer fishing are also excellent as winter active bait. The only condition: the oscillating spoon must weigh at least eighty grams, be large and light, reminiscent of a silver roach catfish. These lures include, in particular, the following baits: Catfish Spoon - 85 g, Detector Spoon - 80 g, Mad Max Spoon - 80 g.
Silicone jig baits are also successfully used in winter. In the twilight light of the underwater deep world, luminous fluorescent vibrotails and twisters 12-15 cm long work especially well. Recently, the so-called edible rubber has become widespread. These are also very effective baits, which, in addition to the visual effect, have a smell that attracts a predator. The weight of the sinkers or jig heads is about 50 grams. At greater depths, more massive baits are also used.
Fishing for winter catfish requires durable fishing rods made of composite materials. The length of such a fishing rod can reach a meter. Also, to equip a fishing rod for catfish, you need a winter inertia-free reel that can operate without failures at sub-zero temperatures. The reel is equipped with a braided cord with a diameter of 0.18-0.2 mm.
Catching catfish using baits and girders in winter
Despite the emergence of more and more new and natural-looking, most expensive artificial baits, the predator unerringly chooses live fish. In addition to its appearance, the fish has a whole gallery of bright and subtle odors, vital fluids, a spectrum of frequencies and vibrations to which any predator, including catfish, reacts. Therefore, live bait gear for catfish is the most practical and catchy for the winter period. In addition, fixed gear has another very important advantage: when they are placed in the right places, the fisherman moves away from them and does not create excessive noise on the ice, which the fish can hear very well, be it just the creaking of fishing boots on the snow. Any girder will confirm this, because when approaching a girder that was just in the grip of a predator, no matter how quietly the fisherman tries to sneak towards it, the pike will still hear him and try to leave, whistling as he spins the girder reel. And this despite the fact that the depth in this place can be ten meters.
The simplest gear among home-made live baits are the so-called “postavukhi” for catfish. This is just a piece of strong nylon cord on which there is an end sinker, and above it - a leash made of strong monofilament fishing line with a diameter of at least 0.3 mm and a length of about 30 cm. A large single hook No. 16 of our numbering or a double of the same is tied to the leash numbers. A fairly large roach or any other “white” fish is attached to the hook. The most reliable way to attach a live bait is to pull the leash through the gills of the fish and secure the hook in the mouth of the bait fish. To do this, the leash must be detachable. This method will not give the predator a chance to grab the bait and leave. True, the service life of live bait with such equipment is shorter than with the method of attaching live bait under the dorsal fin. But in cold water this is not as noticeable as in the summer. The difference in the lifespan of live bait using these methods in winter is insignificant.
At the top, in the hole, the postaukha is secured with a strong stick placed across the hole.
These simple tackles are used mainly by local fishermen, for whom fishing is not only a recreation of the soul, but also a serious addition to the table. Therefore, these rational and catchy gear often bring good catch, since local residents know all the catfish holes and put out several gear, sometimes quite a lot.
Catching catfish on a girder can be no less productive, but there is already such an important factor for the fisherman as a bite, that is, the grip of a predator when the scarlet flag of a girder is raised over the ice silence. And this makes catching catfish with live bait much more interesting.
We have already considered the main types of vents more than once. The most popular option is the one in which a stand with a reel and a flag on a spring is mounted on a plastic stand. But there is another type of girder, which was also once a clever homemade product, but is now produced by well-known companies, which include Akara.
This vent has an original design, which has its pros and cons. The advantages include the simplicity, functionality of the gear and the availability of ready-made equipment on the girder. Moreover, unlike other ready-made rigs, made “anyhow”, which are not even capable of catching, on the Akara 3601-002 girder the rig is ready for fishing without any modifications, but... for catching pike. If you use tackle for catching catfish, it is better to replace a monofilament line with a diameter of 0.35 mm with a braided cord with a thickness of 0.3 mm or with a monofilament line of a larger diameter, for example, with a line with a thickness of 0.6 mm. You will also have to replace the tee with a larger one, for example, No. 12-14. Another advantage of this girder is the sound background, or simply a click when plastic parts collide when turning the flag over. On ice in frosty, calm weather, such a click will be heard quite far away, which will allow you to react to the bite in time and hook the fish.
The disadvantages include the small size of the plastic flag, which will not be visible if the girders stand at a distance of more than a hundred meters from the fisherman. At least, such a flag will be less noticeable than the flag of a homemade girder fluttering in the wind. However, when catching catfish, you should not go far from the girders, so as not to lose your tackle. Catfish is a serious fish.
Zherlitsy and postavukhas are baited with large live bait and placed along the pit edges, where exits of hunting catfish are possible. Predators most often come out early in the morning, sometimes while it’s still dark, but it happens that catfish grab live bait before lunch, and closer to spring, the period of daytime hunting for catfish increases.
In review articles: and you will find a lot of useful information about fishing during cold weather and frosts.
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We describe in detail living, plant, artificial and unusual.
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Study everything to become a real fisherman and learn how to make the right choice.
Catfish is a heat-loving fish. Therefore, it is possible that the very phrase “catfishing in winter” causes mistrust. We will try to clarify whether this is an accident or a real pattern.
Let's start with a brief acquaintance with such a desirable fish as catfish. Freshwater catfish is the largest fish found in domestic reservoirs. It is an object of fishing. After all, who doesn’t dream of catching a catfish? As mentioned above, catfish are heat-loving fish.
The period of its greatest activity occurs in the summer months (June - August), when the water warms up sufficiently. Catfish is a predator. The diet of adult catfish is dominated by fish, invertebrates, mollusks and carrion. The catfish is a typical hermit. Usually the fish stay alone, but with the onset of autumn they flock into small schools of 10-15 individuals and choose holes for wintering, often these holes coincide with the summer ones.
In winter, the catfish sleeps, i.e. is in a state of suspended animation and does not react in any way to nearby wintering carp, bream, etc., which can become a potential victim of catfish. In such pits they catch catfish, but most often with a self-determination, i.e. not in a legal way, but who said you can’t try your luck and wake up our catfish?
This is not an easy task and requires skill and great patience. Catfish fishing in winter occurs, of course, in its wintering places, i.e. in the pits. From a practical point of view, when catching catfish, you should hope for success if catfish are present in large quantities in a given reservoir; or, more correctly, the reservoir has a high density of catfish.
In this case, the chances of catching the much-desired trophy are slightly higher. Well, if the fishing location is still clear, then what about the gear? We won’t catch catfish with jigs. Naturally, we won't. The main bait for catfish is silicone bait. Various twisters and vibrating tails can give the best results, and edible rubber also performs well.
The size of the bait starts from 10 cm and should not exceed 20 cm. The color factor depends on the condition of the water; clear water favors the choice of green or silver bait, and muddy water favors yellow bait. In theory, everything is described perfectly, but in practice it can be completely different. An echo sounder can show where catfish are located under the ice, but there is no way to activate them and force them to pay attention to the bait.
There is another very, very interesting aspect of catching catfish in winter. The fact is that on the territory of our country there is a large network of thermal and nuclear power plants, which have their own reservoirs and cooling channels. This is where the most grace comes to Somu. The temperature of water discharges from the power plant usually exceeds a comfortable 8 degrees for catfish.
This is where the catfish gathers together with other fish present, which also serves as food for it. In such places, catfish are active all year round. I was lucky enough to take part in one of these “winter” fishing trips for catfish in the cooling ponds of the Krivoy Rog TPP, where, in addition to regular catfish, American catfish are also bred, and we can say that the fishing was quite successful.
Summing up, we can say that although catching catfish in winter is not such an impossible task, you can’t really count on success.